VSDCA 2018-19: Mount Waverley scores one-wicket win over Preston

MOUNT Waverley debutant Harry Rees was the hero in one of the club’s greatest VSDCA wins in recent memory on Saturday after a stunning 10th wicket stand with Hugh Birchall.

Hugh Birchall bends his back on day one. Picture: James Ross/AAP

MOUNT Waverley debutant Harry Rees was the hero in one of the club’s greatest VSDCA wins in recent memory on Saturday.

A 10th-wicket partnership worth 39 runs between Rees and No.11 Hugh Birchall gave the Roos an unlikely one-wicket win over Preston in the Round 1 fixture at Mount Waverley Reserve.

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Birchall joined Rees at the wicket with the score 9-180 and the home side needing 219 for victory.

Rees hit an unbeaten half-century in his maiden First XI appearance and Birchall held out the Preston attack, finishing on one not out after facing 16 balls in a nervous 27-minute stay in the middle.

Rees, who played a mix of seconds and thirds in his first season at Mount Waverley in 2017-18, was only in the side as Ben Hocking was unavailable.

But he made the most of his opportunity with a matchwinning knock, hitting 81 not out from 131 balls, including 8 fours, from No.7.

Roos coach Michael Sheedy ranked the win as one of the best in his career.

“Outside the premiership with Plenty Valley, it’s the best win I’ve been a part of in Subbies,” Sheedy said.

“It was gutsy, it was gritty, it was everything you want from a Round 1 effort with a young crew, who are their first time playing together.”

Irish import Fionn Hand looked like he would be the matchwinner for Preston in his first match for the Bullants.

Hand removed Jake Rigby (9) and captain Alex Deuchar (0) in consecutive balls before Milan Fernando (0) fell soon after to the right-arm paceman, leaving the Roos with just one wicket in hand.

But Rees and Birchall combined in the final half-hour to engineer a great escape.

“You always believe but deep down you think it’s always a little less likely,” Sheedy said of the prospect of victory at 9-180.

“Harry farmed the strike when he needed to and Hugh did an amazing job to hold them out.

“Harry dominated play … it was just phenomenal.

“We’re a young club and we’re trying to create a little bit of our own momentum.

“To start the season off after a really solid performance on day one with the ball, we’re in pretty good nick I reckon.”

Angus Robbins (38) and Kurt Benjamin (28) had earlier dug the Roos out of trouble at 4-49 with a 50-run partnership.

But when Benjamin departed, it was left to Rees to guide his side to victory.